The Octet was commissioned by the Auckland Festival of 1962 and intended to be a 'serenade type work' in the spirit of the classical divertimento tradition.
Composer Biography
Ken Wilson, the composer, was a brilliant performer, composer, and teacher, born in Auckland, New Zealand.
Compositional Technique
The Clarinet Concerto, a virtuosic and harmonically compelling work, features colourful counterpoint and seamless transitions.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Ken Wilson's compositional style reflects his quick wit, with musical velocity, rapid tonguing, quirky accents, and spiky rhythms balanced by serene slow movements.
Composer Biography
As a teenager, Ken Wilson's clarinet talent led to his selection for the All-American Youth Orchestra, conducted by Leopold Stokowski.
Composer Biography
Ken Wilson was a principal clarinetist for the newly created National Orchestra of New Zealand (now the NZSO) from 1947 until the late 1950s.
